Lung biopsy. Trichrome stain. Bird fancier's lung (BFL) is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. It can cause shortness of breath, fever, dry cough, chest pain, anorexia and weight loss, fatigue, and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (the most serious complication).
Can you get lung disease from birds?
Psittacosis is an uncommon infectious disease that is most often transmitted to humans through exposure to infected birds, especially parrots, cockatiels, parakeets and similar pet birds. Psittacosis can affect the lungs and may cause inflammatory illness of the lungs (pneumonia).
Is bird fancier's lung fatal?
Although patients with chronic bird fancier's lung have been reported to have a high mortality (4), the pathological findings of fatal bird fancier's lung have seldom been de- scribed, and granulomas were not identified in four reports (3,5–7).
Can you get lung cancer from birds?
CONCLUSIONS--Avian exposure seems to carry a risk of lung cancer. Until the pathogenesis is understood, long term exposure to pet birds in living areas should be avoided, especially among people at high risk of developing lung cancer.
Can bird droppings cause lung problems?
Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by breathing in spores of a fungus often found in bird and bat droppings. The infection is most commonly spread when these spores are inhaled after taking to the air, such as during demolition or cleanup projects.
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